Article/Interview: Christine Nieves
Actor & musician Riley Smith who has been keeping us entertained in amazing roles on Joan of Arcadia, 90210, and Beauty & The Beast, chats with XEX about his new role in Christmas In Conway and Nicholas Sparks new series ‘Deliverance Creek’!
Your new movie “Christmas in Conway” premiered on ABC tell us a little bit about your character.
I play Tommy Harris, a landscaper who helps Andy Garcia’s character build a ferris wheel in his backyard for his wife (Mary Louise Parker) who is dying of cancer. While doing so, he builds a romantic relationship with her hospice nurse (Mandy Moore)
Christmas in Conway has such a great cast including Mary-Louise Parker, Mandy Moore and Cheri Oteri. What was the most memorable moment with your fellow actors?
I had memorable moments with each in different ways. With Mandy, it was one of the first nights in Wilmington to shoot and the director set us up to go to dinner to get to know each other. The dinner just flowed and I knew immediately that Mandy and I would be good friends. With Cheri, I have so many memories of going to the beach and then eating crab legs with her on our days off. With Andy, it was the ultimate. We sat out on his porch over looking the ocean smoking cigars on our last night there. Just talking shop and I was taking notes.
Production on the film began the first week of August, how difficult was it getting into the Christmas spirit during the summer heat?
It was miserable. But the crew did a great job of trying to make us comfortable. They had about 3 people with high powered fans on each actor right up until action and right back on us at cut. If it sounds pampered, it was. But I wasn’t going to complain.
You have been quoted as saying you love Christmas movies, what are some of your favorites?
You know it! Christmas Vacation is the ultimate. Close second, Love Actually. Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, the Grinch. But I’d say my new favorite is Christmas in Conway.
You were recently cast in Nicholas Sparks new series ‘Deliverance Creek,’ what can fans expect from this new series?
A lot of action, romance, with me and the gang looking like a bad ass group of bushwhackers!
The series takes place during the civil war era, did you find it challenging to embody a character from that time period?
We did a TON of pre-production work as a cast with the director. The most prep I’ve ever done. And it was tough and even awkward at times. But we came together as a cast, found our characters and had such a deep base to draw by the time we started shooting that it became second nature.
Aside from acting you’re also a musician and in the band ‘The Life of Riley.’ Do you find it difficult to balance the two; being an actor and musician?
Music is a hobby that I have been fortunate enough to have people hear it and support it. But it will never get in the way of my career, acting. In fact I’ve had a lot of music gigs, tours over seas and such, canceled because I got a show or movie. Its always hard to have to cancel, but I use the time on sets to write, so whenever I can get back into the studio or on tour, I have new material.
You’ve been in the business for almost a decade, what would you say is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned thus far?
Well, its a Marathon not a Sprint. “Dont let the high’s get too high and don’t let the low’s get too low.”